The Mindtools L&D Podcast

Our mental wellbeing can depend in part, on our role at work. How do stress levels of colleagues, managers and directors compare, for instance? What is it about those roles that influences stress levels?

In this week's episode of The Mind Tools L&D Podcast, Emotion at Work's Phil Willcox shares the findings of his latest research report "Managers feel the pinch".

We discuss:

• The research findings on roles and stress
• What "levers" influence poor mental wellbeing
• What we can do to stay healthy

You can find out more about Emotion at Work at emotionatwork.co.uk

To check out Phil's report, see: emotionatwork.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=09d92d7e2e59615c9c15131b0&id=11b6f33586

For more on our competition, where you could win a six month Mind Tools for Business subscription, see: https://mindtoolsbusiness.com/competition

In 'What I Learned This Week', Ross' nugget about declining eye health in children came from The Economist's 'Short-sightedness has become an epidemic': economist.com/leaders/2022/06/09/short-sightedness-has-become-an-epidemic

Phil backed up his research with findings from a paper titled, 'We have emotions but can't show them!: Authoritarian Leadership, Emotional Suppression Climate, and Team Performance': eprints.lse.ac.uk/104058/1/We_have_emotions_but_can_t_show_them.pdf

Owen's learning came from the UK Government's research and analysis into online choice architecture called, 'Evidence review of Online Choice Architecture and consumer and competition harm.' : gov.uk/government/publications/online-choice-architecture-how-digital-design-can-harm-competition-and-consumers/evidence-review-of-online-choice-architecture-and-consumer-and-competition-harm

You can find Ross' blog on choice architecture at: mindtoolsbusiness.com/resources/blog/tips-and-expertise/how-nudge-theory-can-lead-to-better-workplace-learning

Gemma's magpie facts were from the RSPB's 'Magpie life cycle' webpage: rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/magpie/life-cycle/

For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtoolsbusiness.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.

Connect with our speakers

If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter:

• Ross G - @RossGarnerMT
• Gemma T - @GemmaTowersey
• Owen Ferguson - @OwenFerguson
• Phil Willcox - @PhilWillcox

In our 300th episode of The Mind Tools L&D podcast, we are LIVE from London!

Owen, Nahdia and Gemma were joined by two special guests, Julie Dirksen and Phil Willcox, and a live studio audience buzzing after Day 1 of the Learning Technologies 2022 conference and exhibition.

There was something for everyone! We spoke about:

• Perspectives on the LT conference and exhibition
• Designing learning for complex skills
• The mental health challenges that managers face

We also heard what our audience had learnt this week.

To check out Phil's report, see: emotionatwork.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=09d92d7e2e59615c9c15131b0&id=11b6f33586

For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtoolsbusiness.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.

If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter:

• Nahdia Khan - @nahdiakahn

• Gemma T - @gemmatowersey
• Owen Ferguson - @owenferguson
• Phil Willcox - @PhilWillcox
• Julie Dirksen - @usablelearning

We're all familiar with one-off learning events like e-learning modules, workshops and virtual classrooms. They're common because they're logistically easier for everyone, but how we can adapt these to embed learning after the event?

To discuss, Ross G and Owen are joined by Paul 'Westy' Westlake, Digital Director at PeopleUnboxed, and host of the PeopleUnplugged Podcast.

We discuss:

• Problems with one-off events
• Techniques to ensure they have greater impact
• What it looks like to embed learning more systemically within a workplace.

Show notes

During the discussion, Ross referenced the work of Immersive Interactive: https://immersive.co.uk/

We also referenced the Mind Tools report 'Google it: The secret online lives of UK managers': https://mindtoolsbusiness.com/research-and-reports/google-it-the-secret-online-lives-of-uk-managers

You can find out more about People Unboxed at: https://peopleunboxed.co.uk/

The People Unplugged podcast is online at: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1718614

In 'What I Learned This Week', Owen discussed the '(Not Boring) Habits' app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/not-boring-habits/id1593891243

For the blog he recommended, see: https://www.andy.works/words/the-most-satisfying-checkbox

Ross mentioned the video game Lego Star Wars Skywalker Saga, and Paul shared that the world's largest tyre manufacturer is in fact Lego: https://www.coruba.co.uk/blog/lego-the-worlds-largest-tyre-manufacturer/

Ross learned about the 65537-gon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/65537-gon

And Owen spoke briefly about knot theory and proteins: Adams, C., Devadoss, J., Elhamdadi, M., & Mashaghi, A. (2020). Knot theory for proteins: Gauss codes, quandles and bondles. Journal of Mathematical Chemistry, 58(8), 1711-1736. Online at: https://arxiv.org/abs/1912.09353

A wide-ranging discussion this week!

For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtoolsbusiness.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.

Connect with our speakers

If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter:

• Ross Garner - @RossGarnerMT
• Owen Ferugson - @OwenFerguson
• Paul Westlake - @PaulWestlake

Back in episode 279 of this podcast (February 1, 2022: 'Why work is the ideal place to talk about race'), we spoke with authors Margaret Greenberg and Gina Greenlee about their book The Business of Race. But while we talked extensively about personal experiences and inner work, we didn't have a chance to dig into what L&D can do to promote an anti-racist workplace.

So this week on The Mind Tools L&D Podcast, Margaret and Gina are back with Ross G and Nahdia to discuss:

• The pre-work required for organizational change
• The extent to which diversity training is effective
• Tools that can help L&D promote an anti-racist workplace.

Show notes

Find out more about The Business of Race, including links to order a copy, at: businessofrace.com

The LinkedIn page is: linkedin.com/company/the-business-of-race

The Facebook page is: facebook.com/businessofrace

The tools that Margaret discussed were:

• Deborah Plummer's Antiracist Style Indicator (ASI) - https://asi.dlplummer.com
• Annie E. Casey Foundation's Organizational Self-Assessment (OSA) - https://www.aecf.org/resources/race-matters-organizational-self-assessment

In 'What I Learned This Week', Nahdia recommended the Adam Curtis document The Century of Self: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEsPOt8MG7E

Gina recommended The 1619 Project: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html

Margaret recommended Obasan by Joy Kagawa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obasan

Ross referenced No-No Boy by John Okada: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No-No_Boy

And Ross shared that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky voiced Paddington Bear, prior to his current role: https://variety.com/2022/film/news/ukrainian-president-zelenskyukrainian-president-volodymyr-zelensky-voiced-paddington-bear-1235191660/

For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtoolsbusiness.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.

Connect with our speakers

If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter:

• Ross Garner - @RossGarnerMT
• Nahdia Khan - @NahdiaKhan
• Gina Greenlee - @TheGinaGreenlee / LinkedIn
• Margaret Greenberg - LinkedIn

Gamification promises fun activities, increased user engagement and – ultimately – better workplace learning. But do points and badges really make a difference?

In this week's episode of The Mind Tools L&D Podcast, Ross G, Sean, Tracey and podcasting n00b Sam Brown tackle this issue.

We discuss:

• The difference between 'gamification' and 'game-based learning'
• Good and bad examples of gamification
• Common gamification mistakes.

Find out more about Twitter Data Dash at: https://twitterdatadash.com/

For more on gamification, including examples, see:

• com, 'What is gamification'?, at: https://www.gamify.com/what-is-gamification
• Growth Engineering, 'The ultimate definition of gamification (with 6 real world examples)', at: https://www.growthengineering.co.uk/definition-of-gamification/
• Training Industry, 'Game-Based Learning vs Gamification: Do You Know the Difference?', at: https://trainingindustry.com/articles/learning-technologies/game-based-learning-vs-gamification-do-you-know-the-difference

In 'What I Learned This Week', Sean shared the origins of the croissant: https://lesaffre.uk/2020/07/27/what-are-the-origins-of-the-croissant

Tracey discussed the origins of Neptune balls: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/15/seagrass-neptune-balls-sieve-millions-of-plastic-particles-from-water-study-finds

And Ross discussed the meaning of sailor tattoos: https://mymodernmet.com/traditional-sailor-tattoos-decoded/

For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtoolsbusiness.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.

Connect with our speakers

If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter:

• Ross Garner @RossGarnerMT
• Tracey McDonald @TraceyMcDonald
• Sean Brown @SeanBrownHRTech
• Sam Brown @SBrownMT

There are more and more people working in a hybrid way. What does this mean for how we meet, develop relationships and support learning?

In this week's episode of The Mind Tools L&D Podcast, Gemma T and Owen explore these questions with HR for Hybrid Working author and Director of Epic HR, Gary Cookson.

We discuss:

• What makes for an effective hybrid meeting
• Experiences that tend to be better 100% remote / 100% in-person
• The skills we might need to develop as HR and L&D professionals.

You can find out about Gary at: epichr.co.uk/

Gary's book is now available to buy: koganpage.com/product/hr-for-hybrid-working

In WILTW, Owen talked about research findings on the efficacy of "expert" advice. Here's the research paper "Tips from the Top: Do the best performers really give the best advice?"

Gary learnt that the word "viking" was once used as a verb: What does the word Viking mean?

Gemma's bluetooth titbit came from Twitter: Susie Dent: King Harald Bluetooth

For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtoolsbusiness.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.

Connect with our speakers

If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter:

• Gemma Towersey @gemmatowersey
• Owen Ferguson @OwenFerguson
• Gary Cookson @Gary_Cookson

Why is chronic stress, or burnout, on the rise? Who suffers the most? Is it an individual or an organisational problem?

In this week's episode of The Mind Tools L&D Podcast, author Jennifer Moss speaks to Gemma and Ross about the problem of burnout.

• What burnout is
• What causes such chronic stress
• What does and doesn't help ease the problem?

You can find out more about Jennifer's work, and her book The Burnout Epidemic, at jennifer-moss.com

In 'What I Learnt This Week', Ross told us about Shakespeare's missing skull https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-shakespeare-idUSKCN0WQ192

Gemma talked about Dan Gilbert's End of History illusion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End-of-history_illusion

For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtoolsbusiness.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.

Connect with our speakers

If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter:

• Ross Garner - @RossGarnerMT
• Gemma - @gemmatowersey
• Jennifer Moss - @jenleighmoss

What is a digital mindset? Why is it important? And can non-technical people really contribute in digital roles?

In this week's episode of The Mind Tools L&D Podcast, Ross D and Ross G explore these questions with researcher, consultant and author of Digital Mindset, Dr Paul Leonardi.

We discuss:

• How anyone can adopt a digital mindset
• The importance of collaboration, computation and change
• How much you need to know to 'sniff test' statistical claims.

The Digital Mindset: What It Really Takes to Thrive in the Age of Data, Algorithms, and AI, by Paul Leonardi and Tsedal Neeley, is available now.

In 'What I Learned This Week', Ross D shared a tweet from Adam Grant: twitter.com/AdamMGrant/status/1523656067838021632

Ross G shared the paper: Brucks, M. S., & Levav, J. (2022). Virtual communication curbs creative idea generation. Nature, 1-5. Available online at: nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04643-y

Paul discussed the paper: Shih, K. (2017). Do international students crowd-out or cross-subsidize Americans in higher education?. Journal of Public Economics, 156, 170-184. Available online at: sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047272717301676

For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtoolsbusiness.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.

You can find out more about Paul at: tmp.ucsb.edu/people/paul-leonardi

Find out more about Tsedal Neeley at: tsedal.com

Connect with our speakers

If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter:

• Ross G - @RossGarnerMT
• Ross D - @RossDickieMT
• Paul Leonardi - @PLeonardi1

Why is it so difficult to start something new and stick with it? How do we gain and maintain momentum? And why do we tire of what we're doing?

In this week's episode of The Mind Tools L&D Podcast, Ross D and Ross G explore these questions with Smart Growth author and disruption theorist Whitney Johnson.

We discuss:

• what we mean by 'smart growth'
• the 'S Curve of Learning' model
• what L&D teams can do to create an ecosystem where smart growth is possible.

Find out more about Whitney at: whitneyjohnson.com

The Disrupt Yourself wth Whitney Johnson podcast is on Spotify at: open.spotify.com/show/7cn2cgc34znzwPkkwH58sQ

The Grieg piece that Ross G mentioned was 'Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op 16': youtube.com/watch?v=I1Yoyz6_Los

In 'What I Learned This Week', Ross G discussed 'What Can TV Teach L&D? - Star Wars', by friend-of-the-show Tom Hickmore: youtube.com/watch?v=42aDTxlmklY

Whitney discussed Emma Seppälä's insight that happiness impacts three degrees of separation away from the happy person. You can see her TEDx talk at: youtube.com/watch?v=WZvUppaDfNs

And Ross D asked 'are gimmicky airline safety videos putting passengers in danger?': wired.co.uk/article/korean-air-k-pop-safety-video-superm

For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtoolsbusiness.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.

Connect with our speakers

If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter:

• Ross G - @RossGarnerMT
• Ross D - @RossDickieMT
• Whitney Johnson - @JohnsonWhitney

Interactive checklists, immersive VR games, bitesized elearning and so many possibilities in between. Learning designers are spoilt for choice when it comes to interventions. How to choose the "right" one?

Gemma, along with Tracey, Sean and David from the Mind Tools Custom team discuss:

• what we mean by interventions
• who and what to take into account when making a decision
• examples of interventions and the decisions that led to them.

In 'What I Learned This Week', Sean referenced the tinniest mammal, the bumblebee bat. You can read more about it here: guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/70467-smallest-mammal

David's nifty keyboard shortcuts: renaming a file = select file > F2; deleting a file = select file > shift DEL.

Tracey talked about her visit to Loch Garten. You can find out more about the flora and fauna at this magical place here, rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/loch-garten/

Gemma mentioned Yester Castle and the army of goblins that built and now haunt it. Wikipedia expands on the myth here wikipedia.org/wiki/Yester_Castle

For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtoolsbusiness.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.

Connect with our speakers

If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter:

• Tracey McDonald - @TraceyMcDonald
• Sean Brown - @SeanBrownHRTech
• Gemma Towersey - @GemmaTowersey

You'll find David on LinkedIn - David Sharkey